Washing apparatus



Feb. 2, 1954 E. K. CLARK WASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 K R A L. Y m u N R EK O V T m L T R A A E B a ET 3 R MT Feb. 2, 1954 E. K, CLARK WASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m W A i j A S -v u -:--I-. L" N IMHM I h lw l ldl hl H l l l l l l l l U I |H I I I H |l il l |fl H l m N m \M. v x A was INVENTOR EARL K. CLARK WITNESSES: N m

ATTORN EY Feb. 2, 1954 E. K. CLARK WASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR EARL K. CLARK %M ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE Earl nonififilfrfifiifilh to Westing'house Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 7 Application September-30, 1949,:'Serial:No.-.t18;961 Claims. (01. 312-270) My invention relates to 'washingapparatus and has .for-an object to :provide improved-apparatus of thiskind.

invention-relates to washingapparatus and the open top type possess advantages over washers of the socalled-open front type, onaadvantage being that they may flue loaded and .unloaded more conveniently than machines of the open front type. Another adVantageis-that open top :machines are less "susceptible to leaks and. furthermore may be more economically produced. However, a disadvantage present .in the open itop type :of machine, when installed :beneath a work board or:drain hoard :of (a. sink, is that the lbflal'd; must he provided with a :hinged lid tozgainaccess to the washer and, therefore, this lid portion 0f the workihoard cannot be convenientlyused for other operations when washer is operated.

A further object of thepresent invention is :to provide animproved open top dishwasher'which may be installed beneath anunbrokentop panel or work surface of a kitchen sink.

in practicing my invention, :an :open :top :type of dishwasher, which may be generally :of con-- ventional construction, is supported within .a frame so that it may be .readily'moved into the frame for operation and retracted'for loading and unloading. A :cover is carried within the frame structure and means is provided .for'moving the cover downwardly into contact with the vat of'the dishwasher for closing the top -open-' ing thereof when the washer is moved to its operating position-within the frame. When the washer ifs-retracted, the cover is movedupwardly clear of the washer structure 'du'ringthe early stage of the outward movement of the washer. Preferably, the vat is vented to the atmosphere exteriorly of-the frameloy a flexible conduitsecuredto the cover-and the frame. Afron't panel carried by the washer structure closes the front opening in the frame in the operating position of the washer. "The frame may of open side construction when applied for operation within a cabinet type sink "but is enclosed by' panels when used in a cabinet type dishwasher. Flexihl'e conduits are" provided for connecting the washer structure to water'supp'ly' and drain pipes.

foregoing andother objects are effected hymy invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims tal'ren in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming a partof'this application, in which:

i is :a sideselevation of a dishwasher eon.- struetecl amiarrangect in accordance with ;my

invention, the washer structure bein shown partly retracted from the supporting frame Fig. 2 is-a transverse sectional view of the upper portion of the washer vat'andframeiand is taken along the line II--II :of Fig. 3;

3 is a vertical -;longitudinal section :of 'the upper portion :of the washer Nat and frame1and is taken along the line ,'III :.III of :Fig. 45, the washer structure in Fig. .3 being shown in its operating :Position within the frame;

.Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the washerstructurepartlyretractedfromtheirame; and

Fig. 5 is a front view of the upper portionlof the-apparatus with certain elements brokenaway for clearness. I

Reference will now he had to the drawings. in Fig. -1-0f which, IHhave shownan open "top tun of dishwasher, generally indicated at ill, supported lay-a framestructure :H inlsuch manner that it may ihemoved within the frame 11m ture H for=operation and retracted :to a position exteriorlr of the Iframeior loadingandzunloading. The :dishwasher :Hhwh'ich maybe generally of conventional construction, includes a vat it! ihaving :a relatively large access .opening at the top :side thereof .zand indicated :at :i3 in Figsrfizto eginclusives "arresilientgasketzstructure :is carried :bythe vat peripherally of the access opening: I13. ;As shown, a. flanged ring welded or otherwise "secured to the vat :structureiclamps the gasket :l'4 iii-position. :The vat 12 is suitably formedzat therlowerside'tthereof toxdefine aisnmp It for a body of washing water andc'a rotatable impeller l l is employed for projecting *the :water upwardly .throughthe vat and into contact with the-dishes not shown) stored therein. :Suitahle racks indicated eat :18 and t9 and of any wellunderstood :construction 1 are supported :within the vat l2 for holdingthe dishes. 'Theimpeller' l'l is driven iby'a shaft 2| of a vertical :motor '22, the latter :he'ing vearried'tlziy :the vat 132 by means of boltsi'ill. 7

not water'is delivered tothevat 1'2 through a fixed conduit 123 having a valve :24 connected thereto, :which valve-may be-o'f any suitable type and shown, by way of example, as 'a solenoidoperated valve. A fiexihle' hose orconduit 25pmv-ides communication lcetween the valve 24 and a nozzle 28 carried'by the andarranged for the discharge of the: hot-water into the vat 42:. Vitiaterl water is discharged from the vat by a pump 21 through a flexible conduit 28 which leads to a suitable :noint pf -;disclmrge not :shown.

through a pair of friction wheels 29. Flow of water from the vat to the pump 21 may be con trolled in any suitable manner which has not been disclosed for the sake of brevity and as it forms no part of the present invention.

The frame structure U includes a. base 3|, a pair of vertically extending corner members 32 arranged at the front end of the base and a pair of vertically extending corner members 33 secured to the rear end of the base. The upper ends of the corner members 32 and 33 are tied together by a generally rectangular upper frame member 34 and preferably formed of angle iron as shown.

The dishwasher structure I is supported from the frame H by a roller and track construction in order to facilitate the inward and outward movement of the dishwasher relative the frame which constructionwill now be described. As best shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive. 9. pair of channeled members 35 and 36 extend lengthwise of the frame H on opposite sides of the vat 2, the lower flanges 31 and 38 of which define tracks upon which rollers 39 and 4| run. As described hereinafter, the rollers 39 and 4| are journaled on the dishwasher structure It]. The channeled member 35 is provided at its forward end with a laterally directed flange 42 which is secured by tus, a panel 59 is provided, which panel 59 is substantially coextensive with said intervening space. The panel 59 is shown in Fig. 1 and in part in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The panel 59 is secured adjacent its upper end to a box 5| in any wellunderstood manner, as by welding, and the box 6| is secured, as by means of screws 62, to the front ends of the plates 46 and 41. (See Figs. 3, 4 and The panel 59 may also be supported by a bracket structure 63 to the lower portion of the vat |2 as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to maintain the dishwasher structure It in its operating position within the frame H, a latch structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is provided. The latch structure includes a slidable bar 64, one end of which projects through an opening means of bolts 43 to the front left-hand corner I member 32 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The rear end of the channeled member is secured by means of bolts 44 to a bracket 45 welded or otherwise secured to the left-hand rear corner member 33 of the frame. The opposite channeled member 36 is secured to the right-hand front and rear corner members 32 and 33, respectively, in exactly the same manner as described in connection with the channeled member 35 and, therefore, no further description will be given of the channeled member 36 or its support. Arranged on opposite sides of the vat structure l2 and suitably secured thereto are a pair of plates 46 and 4! having respective outwardly projecting rails48 and 49 formed thereon, which rails 48 and 49 rest upon rollers 5| and 52 which are journaled upon the frame. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the left rear roller 39 is journaled on a pin 53 which is suitably secured to the rear end' of the plate 46. The opposite rear roller 4| is journaled upon a pin 54 which is secured to the plate 41 in exactly the same manner as described in connection with the pin 53 and plate 46. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

The front roller 5| is journaled on a pin 55 which is secured to the channeled member 35 adjacent the front end thereof and the opposite front roller 52 is journaled on a pin 56, the latter being secured to the channeled member 36 adjacent the front end thereof.

jIt will be apparent from the foregoing description that, as the dishwasher structureis'moved from its operating position as shown in Fig. 3 outwardly of the frame, the rails 48 and 49 which are fixed, to the vat I2 ride upon the rotating rollers-5| and 52 and that the rollers 39'and 4| roll upon the fixed tracks3! and 38.: Outward move ment? of the dishwashing machine relative the frame H is limited by stops 5! fixed in any wellunderstood manner to the sidesof the vat |2 and which-are engageable with fixedprojecting portions 58 formed on the channeled members 35 and 36'. i

order to close the relatively large opening intervening between the two front corner menibers 32 in the operating position of the appar 65 in the box structure 6| and the opposite end of which is slidably supported by a bracket 66 secured in any well-understood manner within the box structure 6|. The bar 64 in the latched position of the apparatus is disposed behind a projection 67 formed on a catch plate 68, the latter being secured to the corner member 32 by one or more bolts 69. A spring attached to a portion of the box structure 6| and the latch bar 64 biases the latter at all times toward its latched position. Unlatching of the mechanism is effected by a cam 12 fixed to a shaft 13 and having a camming portion 14 which is engageable with a surface 15 formed on the latch bar 64. The shaft 13 extends through the panel 59 and has a handle 16 on the outer or front end for rotating the shaft. From Fig. 5, it will be apparent that counterclockwise movement of the camming portion 14 about the axis of the shaft 13 will force the bar 64 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, and out of engagement with projection 61, whereupon the dishwasher structure may be withdrawn from the frame It as described heretofore.

Arranged within the frame structure U adjacent the upper end thereof is a cover H which is engageable with the gasket M in the operating position of the apparatus for preventing leakage of water through the access opening of the vat during operation of the impeller. The cover TI is supported within the frame structure by a plurality of links l8,the upper ends of which are pivotally supported by respective studs 19, the latter being fixed within openings in the rectangular upper frame member 34. The heads of screws 8| prevent displacement of the links 18 from the studs 19." The lower ends of the links 18 pivotally support laterally projecting studs 82 which are fixed by means of bolts 84 to spaced,

downwardly extending flanges 83 formed on the cover 11. The cover 11 is biased upwardly with respect to the frame to a position, as shown in Fig. 4, at all times by a pair of tension springs 85 secured'at their upper ends to the frame member 34 and at their lower ends to a pair of respective arms 86 which project downwardly from the cover 11 into the paths of movement of the rollers 39 and 4|.

In the operating position of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 3, the rollers 39 and 4| engage the arms 86. During movement of the dishwasher structure to the position shown in Fig. 3, the rollers 39 and 4| engage the arms 86 and effect rearward and downward movement thereof as the cover I! swings downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 3. During this downward swinging movement, the cover 11' engages the gasket 4 and the final stage of. movement of the washer structure effects comree -mi;

the pivots'lt and 8 2 for the various Links. lit is suchthat, during this/compressingoperation, the horizontal lineal movement of: the-gasket Hi. and the horizontal componentof the swinging movement of the cover 7:1 are substantially equal, so that there is no sliding movement of the cover t1 relative the gasket M Upon unlatching of the washer structure as described, the dishwasher and its: gasket M move to the left from the position shown in Fig. 3. The tension springs-85 maintain contact between the arms 8'6 and the rollers 39' and it during the early stage of outward movement of the washer. During this stage of movement, the cover 1'! rides on the gasket l d for a short distance and then moves upwardly clear of the gasket tothe position of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4. Following the separation of the cover ET and the gasket H, the washer structure moves to its outermost position, as described heretofore, for loading or unloading.

It will thus be seen that the cover is mounted to move in apath which is inclined downwardly toward the rear, and that the cover is caused to be moved rearwardly along with the vat during the latter part of its rearward travel. At the same time, it is also caused to move downwardly to compress the gasket. Likewise, upon forward movement, the cover moves upwardly and forwardly along said inclined path, moving forwardly along with the vat during the initial portion of its forward movement from its operating position and at the same time upwardly to a position in which it clears the vat, so as to permit continued forward movementv of the vat.

It is desirable in apparatus of this kind that the vat l2 be vented to the ambient atmosphere. Accordingly, a resilient conduit, shown at 8?, and projecting through the cover 11 is provided. The inner end of the conduit '81 may be provided with a groove 88 for receiving the margin of an opening in the cover 11, as best shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of the conduit 81 is flattened for attachment to an oval-shaped conduit 89 fixed to and projecting through the upper frame 34, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The resiliency of the conduit 81, of course, permits movement of the cover 1'! relative the frame II, as described.

I have shown in broken lines, at 9| a work board of a conventional cabinet type kitchen sink and, when the dishwashing apparatus is applied for service beneath a work board of this kind, the frame H may be of open sided construction, it being understood that the frame is concealed by the walls of the sink cabinet. When supplied for use as a cabinet type dishwasher which may be mounted in any location within the kitchen, the two sides and the rear as well as the top of the framework are provided with suitable panels, not shown, in order to completely enclose the framework. The front side of the dishwasher is, of course, closed in either application in the operating position of the apparatus by the front panel '59. In both applications of the apparatus referred to, the top panel or sink board may be continuous or unbroken and, therefore, may be utilized as a work surface at all times.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved dishwasher construction which, while retaining desirable features of an open top type of machine, may operate beneath a continuous top wall or work surface. The construction is such that the washer-maybe unlatched and withdrawn from;

beneath the top. work surface without stfloping and loading: and. unloading: is. conveniently-carried outwith the open topwasher in position, at the front side of the, work, surface. The door for closing the access opening of. the washer moves automatically into, closed-and open positions in response. to movement of the washer structure. While my invention is, particularly adaptable to dishwashing machines, it will be apparent that it may be appliedtootherforms of washing apparatus, such as domestic clothes washing'machines.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it. will be obvious. to those skilled in the artthat it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the-spirit thereof.

WhatI' claim is:

1. In combinatiomav frame having an. opening in the, front side thereof, a vat having an access opening in its top side, a resilient gasket carried by the vat peripherally of the access opening, means for supporting said vat from the frame and providing for lineal movement of the vat inwardly and outwardly of the frame, a front panel carried by the vatzandsubstantially closing the front opening in the frame when said vat is. moved to its position within the frame, a latch for retaining the vat within the frame, handle means extending through said panel for operating the latch, a cover for closing said access opening, means supporting the cover from the frame and providing for upward and downward movement of the; cover relative the frame, means responsive to movement of the vat inwardly of the frame for actuating said cover downwardly into engagement with said gasket and means effecting upward movement of the cover when said vat is withdrawn from the frame.

2. In combination, a frame having an opening in the front side thereof, a vat having an access opening in its top side, a resilient gasket carried by the vat peripherally of the access opening, means for supporting said vat from the frame and providing for lineal movement of the vat inwardly and outwardly of the frame, latching means for retaining the vat within the frame, a cover for closing said access opening, a plurality of links supporting said cover, said links being pivoted to the frame and to spaced portions of the cover for providing swinging up and down movement of the cover and an arm fixed to the cover and extending into the path of movement of the vat, said arm being engaged by the vat during movement thereof to its position inwardly of the frame for first swinging the cover inwardly of the frame downwardly into engagement with said gasket and then compressing the gasket.

3. In combination, a frame having an opening in the front side thereof, a vat having an access opening in its top side, means for supporting the vat from the frame and. providing for horizontal movement of the vat through said front opening between an operating position within the frame and a position at least partly outside the frame, a cover for closing said access opening, means for supporting said cover in substantially horizontal position in said frame and providing for movement of said cover relative to the frame along, and constraining such movement to, a path inclined downwardly toward the rear, said vat and said cover having cooperating means adapted to engage during the latter part of the rearward movement of the vat, whereby said cover moves rearwardly'concurrently with ing, and means for moving said cover, upon the initial forward movement of said vat from its position within the frame, forwardly and upwardly along said inclined path to a position in which it clears the vat, to permit continued forward movement of the vat while the cover remains within the frame, whereby there is no horizontal sliding movement between said cover and said vat.

4. In combination, a frame, a vat having an opening in the top wall thereof, means supporting the vat from the frame for movement into and out of the frame, a cover for closing the opening in the vat, a plurality of links pivoted to the frame and the cover, one or more of said links supporting the forward end of the cover, one or more of said links supporting the rear of the cover, said links providing for upward and downward movement of the cover along a path inclined downwardly to the rear and restraining movement of said cover to within said frame, means for raising said cover and holding the same in its upper position, substantially parallel to the top wall of the vat, when said vat is moved out of said frame, and means responsive to movement of the vat to its position within the frame for moving the cover rearwardly and thereby forcing the same downwardly into engagement with the vat for closing said opening.

5. In combination, a frame, a vat having an opening in the top wall thereof, means supporting the vat from the frame and providing for movement of the vat rearwardly into and forwardly out of the frame, a cover for closing the opening in the vat, a plurality of links pivoted to the frame and to the cover for the support of the latter, at least one of said links being disposed toward the front of the cover and another of said links being disposed toward the rear of said cover, said links providing for upward movement of the cover upon forward movement thereof and downward movement of the cover upon rearward movement thereof, means biasing the cover to its upper position, and means responsive to movement of the vat rearwardly to its position within the frame for moving the cover rearwardly with the vat and thereby forcing the cover downwardly into engagement with the vat for closing said opening, said biasing means serving to move the cover to its upper position during the initial portion of the forward movement of the vat from its position within the frame, the vat being movable relative to the cover during the remainder of said forward movement.

EARL K. CLARK.

References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 631,836 Welsh Aug. 29, 1899 740,677 Monsen et a1. Oct. 6, 1903 812,343 Horner Feb. 13, 1906 1,172,711 Hunter Feb. 22, 1916 1,825,033 Walker Sept. 29, 1931 2,106,619 Merrill Jan. 25, 1938 2,347,760 Wulstein May 2, 1944 2,429,090 Burt-Wells Oct. 14, 1947 2,430,141 Reeves Nov. 4, 194'? 2,455,182 La Vallee Nov. 30, 1948 

